value in being counted

Anderson Cooper came out today. This is how he said it:

The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.

I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don’t give that up by being a journalist. [Source]

To some degree I agree that a person’s sexuality is none of my business, but I can’t help my very lesbian heart from doing a little somersault okay, every time someone high profile comes out, and comes out very eloquently. That Anderson is a journalist makes this doubly special — he is someone I certainly look up to, all aspects taken into consideration, and pretty much the next time somebody asks me if I’m lesbian, I’m going to quote him and quote him until I get old and wise enough to come up with something of my own.

So, yeah. Thanks for putting the words where there are currently none. Thanks, Anderson!